Envelop-machine.



PATENTED DEC. 12, 1905.

B. ERMOLD. BNVELOP MACHINE.

nrmoumx 11,111) APR. '1, 1905.

35 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

No. 807,369. PATENTBD DEC. 12, 1905. B. BRMOLD. ENVELOP MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 7, 1905.

5 SHBETS-SHEET 2.

No. 807,369. PATENTED DE0.12,1905.

1", ERMOLD.

ENVE LOP MACHINE. APPLIOATION nun APR. 7, 1905.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

PATBNTED DEC. 12 1905.

E. ERMOLD. ENVELOP MACHINE.

' APPLICATION rump APR. 7, 1905.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

PATENTED DEC. 12, 1905.

Y 5 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

r III/11115111111)! 3. BRMOLD. ENVELOP MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 7, 1905.

I UNITED STATES PATENT orrion. EDWARD ERMOLD, OF NEW YORK, N. 'Y.

ENVELOP-MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec, 12, 1905.

1'0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWARD ERMOLD, a citizen of the United States,residing in New York, borough of Manhattan, in the State of New York,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Envelop-Machines,of which the following is a specification.

It is well known that when transferring the paste from the paste-rollerofthe envelop-machines to the flaps of envelop-blanks a number ofenvelops receive more than the required quantity of the adhesivematerial when the elevator on which the pile of blanks is supported israised again after placing a new pile of envelop-blanks thereon, asduring the time required for lowering the elevator and placing a newpile thereon the paste-roller continues its reciprocating motion andtakes up a too large quantity of paste without being able to transferthe same in the regular manner to the envelop-blanks. When the elevatoris returned with a pile of blanks, the blanks on top of the pile receivethen an extra quantity of paste from the roller. This objectionabletransfer of the surplus paste to the blanks continues until the quantityof paste on the pasteroller is diminished and the paste-roller restoredto its normal condition, so that the transfer of the paste to the flapscan then again take place in the regular manner. The extra quantity ofpaste transferred to the flaps necessitates the rejection of a number ofthe envelops as defective.

the motion of the paste-roller is again auto-.

matically interrupted, when the pile of envelop-blanks is againexhausted; and for this purpose the invention consists of anenvelopmachine in which the paste-roller is combined with means forautomatically interrupting the reciprocating motion of the same when thepile of blanks fed to the pickers becomes gradually exhausted, so thatthe taking up of paste by the roller is temporarily interrupted.

The invention consists, further, of means for automatically starting themotion of the paste-transferring roller at the proper time.

after a new pile of blanks is supplied to the elevator, and theinvention consists, lastly, of certain additional features and detailsof com struction by which these objects are carried out, which detailswill be fully described heretail of a portion of the mechanism fortransmitting motion to the knocker-pin. Fig. 3 is also a detail, partlyin vertical transverse section on line 3 3, Fig. 1, of the stopmechanism for the paste-roller. Fig. 4 is a detail front view of themechanism for interrupting the reciprocating motion of the paste-rollerdrawn on a larger scale. Fig. 5 is a plan view of Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is avertical longitudinal section on line 6 6, Fig. 5. Fig. 7 is a detailfront elevation of the latch for locking the stop mechanism of thepaste-roller. Fig. 8 is a detail plan view of the actuating-lever of thestop mechanism for the paste-roller. Fig. 9 is a detail verticaltransverse section on line 9 9, Fig. 4, of the clutch mechanismconnected with the motion-transmitting mechanism of the paste-roller forinterrupting the motion of the same; and Fig. 10 is a side elevation,partly in section, through the knockerpin of the stop mechanism for thepaste-roller.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

Referring to the drawings, A represents the supporting-frame of myimproved envelopmachine, and A the table supported thereon. On the tableA is supported the upper frame A on which the pickers P, folders, andother operative parts of the envelopmachine are supported. To the upperframe A are attached transverse yokes A which support two parallel rodsa, on which are guided the sleeves a, from which the reciprocatingpasteroller B is suspended. The shaft of the pasteroller B is supportedin hook-shaped bearings (0 which are suspended from the sleeves a).

The paste roller B takes up the paste by contact with feed-rolls b,which are located in a paste-receptacle B, that is supported on theupper frame A the rolls 6 and the paste-receptacle being of the usualwell-known construction. Below the reciprocating pasteroller B isarranged in an opening of the ta-v ble A the platform E of the elevatorE by which the envelop-blanks are fed to the pickers, the elevator beingraised or lowered by the well-known rack-and-pinion mechanism. The shaftof the pinion is provided at its front end with a hand-wheel for raisingor lowering the elevator by hand whenever necessary. Reciprocatingmotion is imparted to the paste-roller B by a motion-transmittingmechanism from a cam-shaft S, which is located in bearings at the lowerpart of the main frame A and rotated by a gear-wheel transmission g gfrom a driving-shaft S in the usual manner. On the gear-wheel g islocated a cam g the cam-groove of which engages an antifriction-roller gwhich is applied to a verticallyreciprocating rod 1", that is guided ina keeper 7", provided below the roller g with aforked end r so as tomove along the cam-shaft 8. To the vertically-reciprocating rod 1- ispivoted the lower end of a'connecting-rod T the upper end of which isadjustably pivoted to the lower arm of a fulcrumed elbow-lever 9*, whichis fulcrumed to a bracket P, that is attached to the main frame A. Theupper arm of the elbow-leverr is provided with atoothed segment 1", thatengages a pinion r, the shaft 1" of which is supported inhanger-bearings r said pinion-shaft being mounted at both ends withreciprocating lever-arms 7 which are againconnected at their upper endsby pivoted connecting-rods 7" with lugs r on the sliding sleeves to,from which the paste-roller B is suspended. The cam-groove g is soshaped that by the intermediate mechanism described the paste-roller Bis reciprocated on its guide-rods a, said motion being timed in such amanner that the paste is imparted to the pickers P and transferred fromthe same to the flaps of the envelop-blanks before they are folded bythe folding mechanism. The mechanism by which reciprocating motion isimparted to the paste-roller B is well known and forms no part of thepresent invention.

The novel feature consists in the mechanism by which the motion of thepaste-roller B is temporarily interrupted and the same arrested at theopposite end of its stroke, so as to prevent the transfer of the pastefrom the paste-transferring roll 6 to the pickers P when a new pile ofenvelop-blanks is placed on the elevator-platform E. For this purposethe arms of the elbow-lever r are not made in one piece, but separatedfrom each other, the hub of the lower arm being placed on the hub of theupper arm, as shown in Fig. '9, so as to be locked together or releasedfrom each other by a clutch mechanism. The upper arm of the elbow-leverr is supported on a shaft d, which is supported in a block d on thebracket T The hub (Z of the upper arm of the elbow-lever r is placedloosely on the shaft d and held against the front shoulder of a middleenlarged portion 0Z of the shaft by a head (i at the front end of theshaft, while the rear end is attached by a screw-nut 0Z to thestationary block d. The block CZ, abuts against the rear shoulder of theintermediate enlarged portion 0Z The hub (Z6 of the lower arm of theelbow-lever 1' is provided with three holes 0Z which are adapted to beengaged by a corresponding number of clutch-pins d that are attached tothe circumferential flange of a clutch 01, that is placed slidably onthe enlarged portion (Z of the shaft d. The clutch d is held against thehub of the upper arm of the elbow-leverr by means of spring-actuatedpins d, that are guidedin holes of the stationary block at. The clutch dis provided with a circumferential groove 6, that is engaged byinwardly-projectiugpins e of the ring-shaped portion 6 of aclutch-operating lever D, which is fulcrumed to a supporting-bracket (aattached to the frame A. The fulcrum d" of a clutch-operating lever D iscarried by a keeper 0, which turns in the bracket 6 so that the lever Dcan be oscillated in a horizontal as well as in a vertical direction.The outer end of the clutch-operating lever D is connected by a helicalspring 6 with a suitable support a on the frame A, so as to be drawn indownward direction in the slot of the bracket 0 The outer end of theleverD is further provided with a rearwardly-projecting lug 6 that isintermittently placed in the path of an oscillating rocker-pin f, whichis guided in a socket f, the rocker-pin being actuated by ahelicalspring f which is placed on the shank of the rocker-pin and interposedbetween the head of the pin and the upper end of the socket, as shownclearly in Fig. 10. The socket f is supported on the upper arm of arocking elbow-lever f which is fulcrumed to the frame A, while the lowerarm of the elbow-lever f is connected by a rod f, having a forked lowerend 1, as shown in Fig. 2*, with a cam f on the cam-shaft S, the cam facting on a roller f on the forked lower end of the rod f so that'therockerpin f is intermittently oscillated by the cam f and theintermediate mechanism for engaging the lug e at the outer end of theclutch-lever D when the same is placed in the path of the rocker-pin f.

To the upper part of the bracket 9" is applied a short arm h, whichextends at right angles to the bracket in forward direction and whichserves to engage a recessed keeper it, that is attached to the flange ofthe laterally-slidable clutch 0Z so as to interlock with the same whenthe clutch d is shifted against the pressure of the pins 0Z and producethereby the locking of the clutch-lever D in position, so as to be actedupon by the rockersome;

pin. To the opposite or inner end of the "clutch-lever D, adjacent tothe ring-shaped portion of the same, is attached a curved horizontal armg, which is provided with a recess g adjacent the lever D and whichextends backwardly through an opening in the bracket W, as shown inFigs. t and 5. To the bracket 'r is fulcrumed a spring-actuated latch 9position shown in full lines in Fig. 8 to that shown in dotted lines inthe same figure, so

that the latch engages the recess 9 and locks thereby the arm 9 and theclutch-lever D alongside of the bracket W, as shown in Figs. 6 and 7 Thelatch g is provided with a downwardly-extending nose-piece g whichextends at an obtuse angle to the shank of the latch and which in thelocked position of the latch is placed in the path of the inclined faceon the curved lower end of an arm E ,that is attached to the under sideof the elevatorplatform E, so that on the raising and lower ing of theelevator and its platform the lower end of the arm forms contact withthe nose 9 of the latch g presses on the same, and moves the latch onits fulcrum against the tension of it's spring, so as to release it fromthe recessed arm g and permit thereby the return of the clutch-lever Dinto the position shown in full lines in Figs. 5 and 8. While theclutch-lever D is placed in locked position, the sliding clutch d ismoved on the enlarged portion d of the shaft-din backward directionagainst the tension of the pins 03 so as to withdraw theclutch-pins 0Zfrom the holes (2 in the hub or the lower arm of the el bow-lever r, sothat no oscillating motion can be transmitted to the'upper arm of theelbow-lever T The reciprocatingmotion of the paste-roller is therethelower arm and impart reciprocating motion to the paste-roller B, so thatpaste is again transmitted by the same to the face of the pickers.

The arm E is attached to the under side of the platform E in such amanner as to permit its proper adjustment relatively to the latch of thesame.

to be operated thereby.- It is provided at its middle portion with acurved bracket E to which is pivoted a heel c', the shank of which movesbetween two pins 2", one at each side The lower straight part of theheel c' is placed in the path of the inner end of the lever D whenthesame is in its normal position and clears the same by swinging side- Assoon aswise on its pivot when the platform E and arm E are moved inupward direction, but producing the engagement of the heel 71 with theend of the lever D by the downward motionof the elevator-platform, sothat the outer end of the clutch-lever is raised and placed into thepath of the rocker-pin f, so that the side of the latter engages thesame in the manner shown in Fig. 6, and horizontal motion is therebyimparted to the clutch-lever and the clutch d shifted out of operativeposition. Said lever is then locked by the latch 9 so that the attendantcan place a new pile of envelop-blanks on the elevator-platform E, whilethe motion of the paste-roller B is interrupted. By then raising theelevator the curved lowerend of the arm E engages the nose of the latchg and releases it from the arm g on the clutch-lever D, so that thelatter is instantly returned into its normal position, so as to causethe locking together of the arms of the elbow-lever r, and thereby-theinstant resumption of the motion of the paste-roller and the transfer ofpaste to the envelop-blanks of the new pile. The upward motion of theelevator produces, by the releasing of the clutchlever D by the lowerend of the arm E the automatic interruption of the reciprocating motionof the paste-roller, while the automatic dropping of the elevatorproduces the engagement of the heel 21 on the arm E with the lever D,the relocking of the clutch-lever, and thereby the restarting of thereciprocating motion of the paste-roller. When the pile of blanks on theelevator-platform is sufliciently reduced in size so that a new pile hasto be supplied, the elevator is automatically dropped in the usualmanner and produces, by the action of the heel c' on the clutch-lever D,the locking of the clutch-lever D and the interruption of thereciprocating motion of the paste-roller until a new pile of blanks isplaced on the elevator and the same raised in position, so that theuppermost blank is below the pickers. During the upward motion of theelevator the lower end of the arm E releases the latch and produces theinstant return of the clutch-lever and clutch into engagement with theoperating mechanism of the pasteroller, so that the latter resumes itsmotion and transfers paste to the pickers, the setting of the clutchmechanism by which the motion of the paste-roller is interrupted orestablished being accomplished by the automatic lowering and raising ofthe elevator and the action of the heel and curved arm on'theelevatorplatform, on the clutch-lever, and the clutch mechanism operatedthereby.

The advantage of my improved attachment for envelop-machines is that thereciprocating intermittently interrupted when the same is ,motion of thepaste-roller is automatically and I not required for transmitting pastefrom the paste-receptacle to the pickers and that its reciprocatingmotion is reestablished when a new pile of blanks is placed on theelevatorplatform and the regular motion of the envelop machinereestablished, whereby the transfer of surplus paste to the face of thepickers, the overgumming of the envelop-flaps, and the waste of envelopsin consequence thereof is obviated and the uniform gumming of the flapsof the blanks, and thereby the more efficient working of thepaste-supply mechanism of the envelop-machine, obtained.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent 1. In an envelop-machine, the combination, with apaste-roller and means for imparting reciprocating motion to the same,of a mechanism for interrupting the motion of the rolleroperatingmechanism, and an elevator-platform provided with means for actuatingsaid interrupting mechanism during the descending and ascending motionof the platform.

2. In an envelop-machine, the combination, with a paste-roller andmechanism for reciprocating the same, of a clutch mechanism arranged forinterrupting or restoring the motion of the reciprocating mechanism, andan elevator-platform provided with means for releasing the clutch fromor relocking the same with said reciprocating mechanism.

3. In an envelop-machine, the combination, with a paste-roller andmechanism for imparting reciprocating motion to the same, of a clutchmechanism adapted to interrupt or reestablish the motion of thereciprocating mechanism, an oscillating lever connected with said clutchmechanism, a rocker-pin adapted to engage one end of said lever, meansfor oscillating said rocker-pin, and an elevatorplatform provided withmeans for acting on the opposite end of the lever.

4. In an envelop-machine, the combination, with a paste-roller and meansfor imparting reciprocating motion to the same, of a clutch mechanismadapted to interrupt or restore the motion of said reciprocatingmechanism, a lever connected with said clutch, said lever being capableof a horizontally and a vertically rocking motion, an oscillatingrockerpin adapted to engage one end of said lever, a locking device forlocking the opposite end of said lever after it has been shifted by saidrocker-pin, and an elevator-platform provided with means for engagingthe opposite end of said rocking-lever and with means for releasing thelocking device and clutch-lever.

5. In an envelop-machine, the combination, with a paste-roller and meansfor imparting reciprocating motion to the same, of a clutch mechanisminterposed in said reciprocating mechanism, a lever connected with saidclutch mechanism and adapted to be rocked horizontally and vertically,an oscillating rocker-pin adapted to engage one end of saidclutch-lever, a locking device adapted to lock the opposite end of theclutch-lever, a vertically-reciprocating elevator-platform, an armattached to soiee the under side of said platform and adapted to releasethe locking device from the clutchlever, and a heel pivoted to said armand adapted to engage the clutch-'lever for placing it in the path ofthe rocker-pin for locking the clutch-lever.

6. In an envelop-machine, the combination, with a paste-roller andmechanism for reciprocating the same, of a clutch interposed in saidreciprocating mechanism, a clutch-lever connected with said clutch, anoscillating rocker-pin adapted to engage one end of said clutch-lever,a'locking-latch adapted to en gage the opposite end of said lever forlocking the same, a vertically-reciprocating elevator-platform, adownwardly-extending arm applied to the under side of said platform, aheel pivoted to said arm parallel with the same and adapted to engagethe inner end of said clutch-lever so as to place in the path of therocker-pin andproduce the locking of the clutch-lever and of the clutchout of mesh with the mechanism for transmitting reciprocating motion tothe paste-roller.

7 In an envelop machine, the combination, with a paste-roller andmechanism for imparting reciprocating motion to the same, of a clutchinterposed in said reciprocating mechanism and composed of a movable andspringactuated member, a stationary member, and interlocking meansbetween said members, a clutch-lever connected with the movable clutchmember, an oscillating rocker-pin adapted to engage the outer end ofsaid clutchlever, means for imparting intermittent oscillating motion tosaid -rockerpin, a vertically-reciprocating elevatorplatform, a pivotedheel supported below said platform for engaging the inner end of theclutch-lever and shifting its outer end into engagement with therockerpin, a locking-arm on said clutch-lever, and a pivoted andspring-actuated latch for locking said arm and clutch lever and holdingthe movable clutch member out of mesh with the stationary member, forinterrupting the motion of the reciprocating mechanism of thepaste-roller.

8. In an envelop-machine, the combination, with a paste-roller andmechanism for imparting reciprocating motion to the same, of a clutchinterposed in said reciprocating mechanism, and composed of a movableand springactuated member, a stationary member, and locking-pins betweensaid members, a rocking clutch lever connected with said movable clutchmember, an oscillating rocker pin adapted to engage the outer end ofsaid clutchlever, means for intermittently actuating said rocker-pin, alocking-latch adapted to engage and lock the inner end of theclutch-lever, a

vertically reciprocating elevator platform and a curved arm attached tothe under side of said platform, and located. in the plane of thelocking-latch, said arm engaging the latch during the upward motionofthe platform for releasing the clutch-lever, returning theclutchmembers into mesh with each other and resuming the reciprocating motionof the pasteroller.

9. In an envelop-machine, the combination, with a paste-roller andmechanism for imparting reciprocating motion to the same, of a clutchinterposed in said reciprocating'mechanism, and composed of a movableand springactuated member, a stationary member, locking means betweensaid members and a device for locking the movable member after it iswithdrawn from the stationary member, an oscillating rocker-pin adaptedto engage the outer end of said clutch-lever, means for intermittentlyactuating said rocker-pin, a looking device adapted to lock the innerend of the EDWARD ERMOLD.

Witnessesz PAUL GoEPEL, HENRY J. SUHRBIER.

